There's no doubt that Aussie rockers Fallen Silver as a band posses many qualities, and its performing stylish option offers enough attractive moments, judging by musical traces from debut "Blood In Blues Eyes". Unfortunatelly, a band is placed in actualle millenium, where quiet different regulativities exist in nowadays worldwide scene, than the case was, in for example 80's period.It's important to mention, cos' band's offering belongs mostly to hard rock/pub rock/boogie tendencies, similiar to legacies such as acts as a : Rose Tatto, The Angels, and finally "softier" AC/DC . A band definitive reminds me on earliest Rose Tattoo, and its 80's sound invasion, but Fallen Silver's offering also has accepted some other evident elements, as a melodicity as a primar quality. 80's flavour in its sound is practically present on whole album materials, and most of songs also posses radio acceptables. Fallen Silver are convinceble in its vision and album materials deserves positive reactions, but 80's tendencies and retro approach surelly has amortized offering creativities.

A New Mexico horde Left To Rot started its carrear in 2004 year. During the period of existencetheir line-up suffered from some personal changes, but gig activities has announced a band's presence on underground circuit in its area."Bathe In Blood" is its actuelle album, where we can find an uncompromised portion of brutality and sickness. Death with grind elements, similiar to psychology of older scholl and nearer to legacy of groups as a : Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, are present on 22 minutes of album. Practically, all things are clear after listening of just few tacts, and same atmosphere has followed through complete songs materials. Left To Rot play with constant passion and energy, growl vocalizations are also fullfield with screaming additionals, and only production is more orientire to 90's period, than to nowadays options. Fans of extreme and brutal metal tendencies will be "pleased" with "Bathe In Blood" album.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

A previous year certainly was the period of confirmation of Kevin Mark status on blues area. His album "Cuttin' Loose" was another sucessfull product after "Rolling The Dice" from 2004 year. A guitarist, shouter and songwriter with his friends and collaborators has offered on album 14 tunes, where 11 belongs to authors work. Kevin's musical offering are consists of hard driven blues timelly located in different periods, and different performing backgrounds dominates through his authors legacy. He simply has standardized own style, which is combination of 50's blues, 80's rhythm and blues, swing, 70's rockabilly and many in-betweens. He also has offered a specific joy and positive vibrations, and practically all of present tunes posses mentioned mood."Cuttin' Lose" is a simply masterpiece, recomandable also for non-blues followers.

A songwriter Bernie Shanahan during the previous year has released still actuelle album "You". That isn' t his first effort, and back in 1989, he has recorded album for "Atlantic Records"."You" are consists of emotionally driven tunes and same atmospheres. Mostlly balaads dominetes through his authors mood, and in some way offering materials reminds me psychologically on issues comes out in music industry from the late 80's period. I couldn' t compare Bernie with some possible similiar artists, and his authors view is unique , even that musical pastiche circulate through well-known areas. "You" is evidentally listenable album, and Bernie's old-fashionable manirism realistically reflects his creativities.

Certainly, a newer hope of USA underground metal scene should be a band Malecoda.They work as a trio ( even that momentally in formation missies a drummer ) , and some months ago they have released with own forces an EP with 5 tracks in entitled "The Hordes Of Annihilation".Malecoda are on the field of death metal, with influences comes out from the 90's, but very wise and clever arrangments works, and absolute missings of any boring elements equally in performing options, as same as final realizations, shows that they are promising and interesting band.Growl vocalizations, as same as backing performings, oftenly were done in slower mood, and group threats mentioned details in similiar way, like the case is with doom acts. Bit in finalization, americans has given an interesting and unique mix. In presents songs also are evident often atmospheric and mood changes, and each track separatelly is different among them. I would mention a personal favorit from its issue as a better one - "Inhuman Suffering". So, without a doubt a band's debut respectabelly promotes its ideas.

Out of Sanford, North Carolina. comes act Method To Madness. They work as a trio, and in own production have released a some period ago album entitled "Human Nation" Musically, MTM covers rock and progressive rock elements with strong hard includings.Some influences comes out from the legacies of acts such as a Rush or Kings X, and also are evident traces of 70's period. MTM didn' t offer technical supremacy as a case is with many genre's similiar acts, but its vision more effort gives to authors creativities.Their songs were done mostly in mid to mid-up tempo, and one "coolie" atmosphere dominates through album materials in general. There are also many unexpecting performing transformations, as same as acoustic additionals, and mentioned elements make comparizitions with Canadian legendsRush more realistically.It seems that production, a band has threathed in one so call "old fashioned" way, but that was their choice. "Human Nation" as a album, isn' t easy to acceptable on first listening, and also a band has offered a specific mood with its songs. Even that "Human Nation", isn' t a superior issue, offering materials describes band's visions and shows clear potentials.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

A North Carolina trio Black Skies, a some months ago has released an EP issue, untitled"Hexagon". Actuelle EP was followed a year before with Demo material. Black Skies belongs to that sort of groups, whose musical options you will prefer and support, or simply-hate. Their sound is faithfull to doom/stoner/sludge variants, and as a band they are nearer to older school. They are infected by the Black Sabbath, Melvins and even Saint Vitus influences. Musically they delivers : hard, hypnotic, and at the same time monotonous sound, but as a band stands proudly, with clear offering attitude. Its vision is uncompromised, and it's evident after listening of EP's materials, where exists 6 tracks in, with little less than 23 minutes of music.Black Skies are manniristically defined, and its option relevantelly connect 70's, 80's period with nowadays genre's tendencies.

Fancy Frogs are Pancevo based band, a longest period active on domestic and national scene. All of luckiest followers who have opportunity to face them "alive" can confirm that band gaves the best part of their capabilities on stage and offers a specific devotionals. During the 2002 year, they release a debut for "Active Time", and some months ago a second effort entitled "Son Of Earth".Fancy Frogs are orientire to variant of dark/goth rock, established on continent in the first part of the 80's. They work as a quintet, where specific place in their approach belongs to arrangments threathenings. A band seriously and conceptually comunnicate with mentioned arrangments, and in that conception, a keybord rolas dinamized atmospheric lines in songs.I would also mention a frontman/lyricist Branislav Jokic, whose monotonous/hypnotized vocalization has given unstandardized tour de force and strength to other band members."Son Of Earth" is an album consists of 7 tracks in, and surelly band had offered some sort of conceptual creation.Practically, we can not find any weacker details, even that screenplays of songs itself are different among them. A group also offered an interesting album artwork with 20 page booklet includings.As a band, Fancy Frogs constantly shows a progress, and actuelle album confirms mentionedopinion.

USA band The Vengeful Few originated from 2004 year, and were formed by two key membersand guitar players Tom Catuosco and John Zambri. They were sick of actuelle metal happenings and genre's offerings, and decided to create their style to form which were established during the glory 80's.A group released a CD in their own, and S/t album contains of 8 equally threated tracks. 7 songs are penned by T.Catuosco and 1 authorized J.Zambri.In my opinion band are faithfull equally to European as same as to USA influences comes out from the mentioned 80's. Even that they noticed Maiden, Priest, and Dio as a main influental acts, I would add that they have offered own view. Thery aren' t so original in general, but I couldn' t compare them with any other more or less known acts. Their materials posses progressive elements as well, and members from band has taken a lotta' effort in arrangments threathenings.A production mostly follow up their 80's approach, but also communicate with nowadaysstandards.The Vengeful Few album deserves a listeners attention, and consists of several interesting and convinceble parts.

I have received a promo CD-R from Italian act Hatred, whose drummer Valentz also perform in band Dark End. Hatred offers a quite diifferent musical option than mentioned Dark End, and their style can be described as a sort of death/thrash metal. The hiatus of band was created in 2001-year, and in 2006, they release a 4 track Demo material. "Live 2007..." with 6 tracks in, introduced them as a death/thrash band mostly influental by the older school, comes out from the 90's period. Even that exists more influences in their sound, a best part of their approach belongs to performing energy, so they have sounded quite furiously "alive". I couldn' t add that band members are technically well-trained, but evident enthusiasm and mentioned energy took the best part of them. Not so original, but vividly ready to taste their possibilities in contact with audience...

Dark End are six-piece untipical black metal band whose carrear dated back from the end of 2005 year. After some line-up consolidations, they started to prepare a materials for debut album, whose realization looked the light of day in previous 2007 year. Even that we can face it with facts that black metal as a genre drowned in deep crises, listening a Dark End album comes to mind that Italian fellows haven' t a mentioned sort of problem. A band had offered own viewsof symphonic black metal influental equally by the newer and older school. A special interesting thing comes to lyrical approach. A complete materials except one song - " Love Will Tear UsApart " , penned by Joy Division, are taken from the Baudelaire's books - "Le Fleur du Mal" and "Spleen" .So, Italians hardly tried to sound realisticly and convinceble, and their album mostly confirms that statement. Some of offering songs are done in mid-up tempo, some are more atmospheric,other are furious and faster. Finally, we have here one intereting issue, recomandable for black metal followers.

Leb i Sol are active again with new studio album. Actuelle issue looked the light of day some days ago, and are done by two original members, bass player Bodan Arsovski i keyborder Koki Dimusevski.. Guitarist, leader and frontman Vlatko Stefanovski didn' t want to participate in actuelle reunion phase, and the same situation stay with original drummer Garabet Tavitjan. Probably, the best Macedonian band ever, is one of rarest who can not face it with so call authors problem. As we know, Dimusevski and Arsovski are skillful composers and they confirmed own capabilities in older Leb I Sol albums, as same as in their solo efforts, released during the last 18 years. It's also in my opinion important to mention, that carrear of Bodan Arsovski before andafter of realization of masterpiece " Endless View" had respectable international taste.A new line-up are consists of band members old friend and collaborators - guitarist DimitarBozikov, and Belgrade drummer Srdjan Dunkic wanted studio and seshn worker in last few years. But, surely most interesting place belongs to Dado Topic, who has taken a vocal rolas, and certainly intrigueted media personals. A several interesting quests participate on album too, among others Slobodan Trkulja and well-known actor Sergej Trifunovic."Itakanataka" is an expecting album done in the Arsovski and Dimusevski kitchen. A bandmostly follow-up the tradition seen on their oldest albums realizations, and I' m not surprised at all. There are still present one eclectic combination of fusion, jazz-rock/world music elements, with expecting ethno flavours.There's no doubt that Dado Topic perfectly done the interpretation of "Si zaljubiv edno mome", a song supported by actuelle video clip.All technical details are done professionally and refined, and members from band one more time here showed their huge experience. "Itakanataka" is an album with 9 tracks in, and band's die hard fans can be satisfied also, cos' the instrumental tracks are taken the biggest part of complete materials.Musically, "Itakanataka" without Stefanovski in my opinion is one of the better Leb I Sol album in group's complete carrear. Leb I Sol are in the saddle again, and we'll see what the future brings...

NO RESTRAINTS" In The Left Lane"( Self - released) 2007.CDProgressive - USA

No Restraints are USA based prog. band, lead by Mark Smith, songwriter, singer and producer. With his group collaborators he recorded an album full of strange and untipical atmosphere, orientire to legacy of progressive music dated back in 70's period. His voice, as same as offering music mostly knows to remind on Peter Gabriel,Genesis works, and another undoubtly influental act - Peter Hamill's Van Der Graaf Generator. 10 present songs are done in slower to mid tempo, where mentioned atmosphere create a songs structures. A very few nowadays active groups sounds nearer to Mark Smith's band and we can say that his author's orientation is unique."In The Left Lane" also we can judge as a concept album who needs a specific listeners attention. "In The Left Lane" is mostly recomandable product for 70's prog lovers.

Out of Verona, Italy comes an interesting act, named Banditz. Their carrear is constantly up, after the period of Summer 2006 year, and consolidations of formation.Nicotine Sam ( all guitars ), Fabian ( bass ) and female-fronted singer Jade, nucleus of band joined forces and during the previous 2007 year, recorded an album materials, consists of 8 newer tracks, 3 are taken and arranged from the Demo "Human Phobia", and one song is taken from the first Banditz promo "Dirty Gamez"."Sensation Seeker" is a modern issue where elements of rock, metal and hard rock travels together in one direction.A band has offered a furious energy, some power pop spices, and clear performing message. A female singer Jade knows to remind on Pat Benatar in some details, but her frantic vocal transformations in practically each songs are band's maybe strongest weapon. There's no doubt that Banditz are original act, and their album didn' t fail in any classic trap. Their songs are also listenable and recomandable for no-metal/hard rock orientire fans.

Mitigate are trio, originated in Austria, active on scene from January 2006 year. As a band they performed in national and local area, and has some support by national metal press. During the previous year, they recorded an album entitled "Welcome To Our World".Austrians are on the field of death/thrash metal, fullfield with strongest symphonic elements. Their sound is full of blast-beats, strongest backing performings and solid combination of growl vocalization and so call "normal" singings. I would add that they are influental also by the 90's period as well, but thay hardly tried to offer own vision. "Welcome To Our World" contains of 12 tracks, with similiar valuables. In my opinion a band deserve wider attention, but it's evident that they have to do a lotta' efforts in marketing and promotional field, outside national area.

Locate on Long Island's East End, Mambo Loco are band active on so call latin scene in their area. Consists of well-known and established performers and professionals, they are facing with latin challenges, and certainly all the job's they did with respectable approach. A music on their S/t album band mostly dedicate to the latin classics which originated in Cuba and Puerto Rico during the golden period between 1940's to 1960's.As a skillfull musicians complete materials a group played with elegant style. Some of the materials posses jazzy flavour and acters didn' t hesitate to include themselves in improvizations. Arrangments are threthed in expecting way, and we can also say that production can communicate with the standards of our time.Mambo Loco CD contains of 8 listenable tracks, and little more than 36 minutes of music. Their CD you can buy directly form band or from largest indie web store CD Baby

A well-known band on black metal field, Blut Aus Nord, during the last part of 2007 yearrecorded "Odinist" for "Candlelight" label. A French trio, active on scene from 1994 year, till now are released 7 CD's, 2 split issues and 1 EP. "Odinist" isn' t maybe a expecting album of band, but many connective elements are present here from the past. "Odinist" with 7 offering themes sublime pure black metal elements with industrial and goth parts. Atmospheric details also are different from song to song, so production at last uniqually didn' t communicate with standards of our time, but surelly didn' t relocate to past tense."Odinist" in many places tries to find another exit from classic black metal standards, and as aresult we have band's original views and surelly interesting travelling with it's offering options.

A Hungarian underground legend Sear Bliss are active again with their 6th studio effort, entitled "The Arcane Odyssey". This time, their publisher are personals from "Candlelight" label.11 years were gone after their album "Phantoms", but a band still have enough inspirations for further development.As a many of their fans expected, a band one more time offer own vision of black metal, expandier with doom, epic and progressive parts as well.Strong arrangments threathenings, refine production, one more time tastefull added elements ofbrass includings, with convinceble and effective vocal growls, as a result has another succesfull product. 8 tracks are present on "The Arcane Odyssey" and it seems that some elements of conception posses complete materials in general.Sear Blisss continiously runnin' its carrear in best possible way.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Norway act Where Angels Fall is active on scene from 2004 year. A same year they have released an EP "Dies Irae", discographically followed by full-length "Illuminate", released in 2006 for "Edgerunner Music". In the 2008 year a band parted ways with mentioned "Edgerunner" label, and actuelle issue release with own forces, as a self-financed album.A Norway act have in formation a female-fronted singer Eirin Bendigtsen. She has a pleasentvoice, and her method of vocalizations mostly create an atmospheric elements of each songs. WAF plays own variant of goth metal, where electronic elements coolide with classical and standardized performing options.Its songs also posses melanholic dark rock traces, but generally, a melodicity is main element of offering songs. A present tunes also posses equall qualities, and production is also modern. It's interesting that Norway act less energy gives to so call extravaganza or glamour, and untipically for that sort of groups are nearer to one natural emotional approach. As a album"Marionettes" surelly deserve a wider audience attention, not only from so call genre's die-hard followers.

Out of Termoli, comes act Wicked Dream, founded in 2003 year. A basic inspiration for its name, was Black Sabbath song "Wicked World". In 2004. they released a S/t demo with 5 tracks in, and during the previous year an actuelle full-length. They suffered of some personal changes, but we can confirms, that domestic underground metal community knows as well about the band.Wicked Dream performs variant of heavy/thrash metal with clear death includings. They are pretty infected by the 90's period, but judging by instrumental performings ( not in vocal threathenings ) its sound also knows to associate on 80's legacies. "Perversion From The Ashes" are consists of equally standardized materials, but also its offering didn' t show technically skillness or convincebles of members from band - but finally they sounded according to its wishes. A productional work is monotonously threathed, and all of 8 present songs, sounds similiar among them. "Perversion From The Ashes", with 25 minutes of music, isn' t a albumwhose materials will be specially remembered, but a band has offered some potentials at last.

Iron Dragon is a Canadian band/project, brainchild of guitarist/author Ryan Crouse. He is also a owner and creator of "STAR VERSE" comics. With friend and bassist Sam Derkatch he has recorded an album "Open The Gates". This is his second effort, this time done as a fully instrumental album.In some way "Open The Gates", is a sort of epic story/saga, where whole concept has promoted Ryan's interesting performing fields.But, this isn't a typical or classical guitar orientired metal issue. As a guitarist, Ryan didn' t show elements of virtuosity, but conceptually his album is full of often tempo or mood changes, as same as atmospheric or emotional diversities. We can not find well-known and established maniristical elements on his album, and all present things sounds also as a sort of musical experiment.It's also evident that "Open The Gates" accepts progressive influences, even that technically/productionally a present themes are poorly done. There are 11 tracks on album, and we can also threats them as a connective parts.Finally, we can face it with interesting challenge, whose realizations deserve a listeners attention.

A Belgrade guitarist Marko Pavic last years relocated in Rome, during the September this year has released his second effort, an album titled "Unconditioned". A first CD, "Taste Some Liberty", dated back in 2005 year. With his friends and collaborators he has recorded a material strictly nearer to melodic hard rock and AOR forms. A mentioned genre's variant is specially in expansion last few years, and we can follow a constant invasion of Scandinavian acts. "Metal & AOR Heaven" label mainly push a newer/older names from mentioned field.Pavic and his band has offered technically acceptable and relevant album, also a very listenable, judging by authors work. But, at the same time his album suffer from maniristical problems, where as a result we have a less of originalities in presents songs. Unfortunatelly, this reality will mostly create a status of album in general, on actuelle melodic hard rock and AOR market.

About Me

Branimir Lokner
I`m Branimir Lokner, music editor and reviewer from Belgrade, Serbia. I`m working as a music critic from 1980 year, and till now I have also released a two books about critical views orientired to Serbian and former Yugoslavian artists. I`m constantly write about music also for radio and TV programs/editions. My critics also can be found on following webzines/sites/portals: BARIKADA-www.barikada.com; ROCK SERBIA NET-www.rockserbia.net; my own site/zine BLOKNERONLINE-www.blokneronline.net. Bands, artists, labels, promo agencies, stay in contact and send promo materials to: Branimir Lokner, Bezanijska 33, 11080 Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia